Jake huddled around a small campfire, appreciative of the warmth that it provided. To his right was Luna, who seemed indifferent to the chilly cold air.
"You're weird, you know that?" Luna said while letting out a bored yawn.
"Shut up, I can't stand the damn cold" Jake rubbed his hands together.
"It's probably like sixty degrees at least"
"Yeah, that's freezing"
Jake's complaints seemed minor, compared to the mission they were currently on. With a disappointed sigh, Jake sat up and reached for the flask attached to his side, opening it and pouring some water into the fire. With a dying hiss, the fire was snuffed out. Luna stomped on the smoky remains for good measure.
Then, from beyond the small cliff Luna and Jake had rested on, a large boom resounded through the air. Sparks flew upwards into the distance, followed by pillars of smoke.
"Marquis sure loves to be flashy huh?" Jake asked a slight grin on his face
"You know the bastard flaunts his magic" Luna responded, getting a chuckle out of Jake.
It still felt strange to call the captain by his name, after all it had only been three months since they had arrived at his own little fortress. Not a lot had changed since then, Marquis wasted no time training the beyonders who had just arrived, and those who hadn't were put to work on multiple missions, whether it be resource gathering, interceptions, or simple patrols.
The small battalion needed to build a reputation among the common folk of the countryside. After all, the territory the Stellan Empire resided in was massive. So staying out of sight and mind of the Empire was easy. However, as Marquis mentioned, they did not have the backing of the empire. So being able to get rewards or trade with the villages and people of the countryside was key.
Right now, Marquis and a few of the more experienced beyonders we're currently raiding a rebel outpost. Luna's and Jake's goal was just to intercept and kill any stragglers.
Luna had seemed to steel her resolve when it came to killing. Which Jake wholeheartedly supported, it was better for Luna to think that it was her or the enemy.
Jake watched the sloppy dirt road that he and Luna had been assigned to. It was a relief that the two had been assigned this comfy task. Compared to the missions they had done in the past at least.
"Didn't Marquis say that the entire point of gathering the beyonders was to go on expeditions to the other continents? Why bother doing these noble acts?" Luna asked, crouching at the edge of the small cliff
"Well, he could just be trying to gather his strength. I doubt he's trying to keep a reputation considering all of this is without the Empire's permission. I mean, the weapons Tom gave us are still the best weapons in the entire battalion. Dave and Esther can't seem to come up with something like them" Jake joined Luna, dangling his legs of the cliff edge
"Maybe Tom is just that good. I mean he is Mexican, just like me"
Jake stared at Luna with disbelief "I-I guess, I can't comment on it exactl-"
Luna suddenly pressed a finger against his lips. Jake opened his mouth to protest, but stopped as he heard the approaching sound of footsteps. Both Luna and Jake stood up, grabbing their weapons. Luna had decided to wield a two headed battle axe, simply for the sake of aesthetics.
'Not like it took her long to learn how to use it'
Jake meanwhile, had finally gotten around to learning the sword. He enjoyed using it very much, if only because it satisfied some childish wish within his mind. That was enough reason for him to use it.
Eventually, four figures appeared from the dip of the road. Illuminated by an Aetherium lamp, they looked worse for wear, tattered and torn leather clothes. Dirt and grime across their faces.
'Not like it'll matter for much longer'
Luna acted first, gracefully descending into a favorable position along the cliffside, then she jumped into the air, battle axe swinging down. It entered the skull of the person carrying the lantern with a sickening crunch. Retrieving her axe, Luna kicked the lantern off into the distance.
As the other three rebels got ready to fight, Jake finally appeared. His sword pierced through the head of the farthest rebel. The other two didn't stand a chance, with one swipe of his sword, Jake sliced one of their necks. The other was met with a battle axe to the chest, nearly slicing the man in two.
It was over as quickly as it began, Jake and Luna made quite the team if he had to say so himself. Jake looked through the bodies, happily grabbing the pouches at their side, shaking them slightly revealed the coins that resided within them.
"These guys likely had the money"
"No kidding" Luna responded, grabbing the pouches from the other two. "I think we're all done here, let's meet up with Marquis"
Jake nodded, and the two walked along the road.
Jake looked at the burning rebel outpost, it would be very cinematic if not for the sheer amount of times Marquis did something like this.
Speaking of the show-off captain, he was standing nonchalantly in front of the secret pathway. Along with the other beyonders he brought along.
"Ah, Jake and Luna, glad to see-" Marquis then spotted the pouches of coins the two were carrying. "Toss it here"
Luna just gave Jake a knowing smirk, and Jake simply shook his head. Both of them tossed the pouches they were carrying at Marquis. Marquis hand shot out like he was grabbing a lifeline,
"Sweet Stella, this should be enough to pay for this month's expenses. Aren't I such a good captain? Putting my battalion before personal wants?"
The beyonders around him reacted differently, some nodded with revere, some snorted, some burst out laughing. It was a heartwarming sight, and one Jake did not think he would be able to see. A small warmth entered his heart.
"Amy is part of your battalion is she not?" Luna put her hand on her hip, as if testing the captain
"Thats different, you see she is a very valuable co-captain-"
"Yeah yeah, we know she's very valuable at being your girl"
"Believe in what you like beyonder" Marquis said with sarcastic disdain
"Shouldn't we get moving before the Empire comes to check this out" Finn, a recently trained rookie. This would be his first big mission.
"You're right Finn, let's get moving"
The cohort gathered up and began to move. Walking down the forest path and back towards the village they had resided in to prepare for the mission. Getting back to the fortress would take days of travel.
Unbeknownst to them, a third party was lurking in one of the trees. With a grunt, it ended its watch over the group, its job was done here.